Poder Conjugation: All Tenses, Explained Simply (with Examples)
Learn every tense of the Spanish verb poder with clear conjugation tables, example sentences, and an explanation of when to use poder versus saber.
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Back to school! Some small changes to classroom learning that will make a dramatic difference
It’s September and people are going back to school and are learning languages inside classrooms again. I think it’s time for me to open up this pandora’s box and discuss why I don’t think classrooms work for language learning. Of course, the classroom itself isn’t the only problem so rather than argue for the sake […]
Track Language-Learning Hours, Not Years
Track useful language-learning hours by activity, choose a real task and build a practice routine you can keep.
My first weeks in Budapest: Hungarian mission update
From the blog’s origin era (2009–2014) — kept as lived proof of the method. See all the missions. It’s been a few weeks since I arrived in Hungary and got my teeth into my latest mission. I had a bumpy start, but got over it and am on schedule towards my end goal! So it’s […]
What’s the hardest language to learn in the world?
If you’ve come here to find a detailed explanation categorising down to precisely one answer, or a small list of the toughest languages, then stop reading the post right now. I’m not in the business of discouraging people so if you are looking for some more discouragement, you’ve come to the wrong place! The term […]
Why ESL teachers are the best teachers and the best learners
I’ve had many jobs in the last many years on the road but the one that I could always rely on was ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher. I worked in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Brazil, and Ireland as an English teacher for non-natives and found it to be very satisfying work. However, what I […]
Are Germans Rude? How to Question German Stereotypes
Learn how to question German stereotypes, interpret unfamiliar communication more carefully, and practise German with respect for individual preferences.
7 reasons why you should sing to learn languages
Warning: This video contains a silly looking Irish guy singing a German song in bad karaoke-style. Protect your ears! Singing is an amazing way to dramatically improve your language learning strategy. To prove to you that I’m serious about this, you can see a video of me singing in German at the bottom of the post. […]
The ONE thing that will ultimately lead to success
After years of investigating what separates successful language learners from unsuccessful ones, I believe I have found the one thing that those who ultimately succeed and speak the language fluently, all have in common. It’s not the course materials they use, or their ability to travel, it’s not a particular aspect of their “method”, it’s […]
Shocking truth about passive listening
Having audio in your target language on in the background is not the same thing as studying it. It may make the sound of the language feel more familiar, and it can be enjoyable, but it is a weak substitute for the attention you need to understand, remember and use what you hear. The useful […]
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